The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-25

ltical issue? For the Federal aid to educa-
ton? The Democrats are for it. For justice
from the Federal government by compensa-
ton for territory despoiled? The Democrats
demand it. For the election of q senator who
will vote for protection to our labor and pro-
ducts The Democrats are pledged to it. For
lessening the surplus in the National Treasury
taken by taxation from the people? The DEM
ocrats demand 1t. For the total repeal of the
revenue taxa war measure which |
has cost Virginia more than enough money to |
have twice paid the whole of her debt and that |
of West Virginia-is it for that? The Demo- |
Gratis demand its immediate repeal Vindica- |
tor
This is decidedly cheeky. Our neighbor |
must be under the delusion that his read |
ers and the Intelligent people of Virginia
generally are ignorant of the current his
tory of parties. Possibly his recent So
journ by the "murmuring sea" has sponged |
from his memory that history, and conse-
quently he has innocently reached the con-
cuslon that the fresh utterances of the |
alleged Democracy at Boss Barbour's
Roanoke Convention, were the first an
nouncement of Democratic principles. How
ever disagreeable, we. must arouse our CO.
temporary from his trance, and remind
him that often and over again during
the past year did he warn the party in
Congress that if the Blair Educational |
bill was not made a law and the internal
revenue tax on tobacco removed, the
patty would be held responsible for |
the failure, and justly so. The warning
was not needed, Notwithstanding the Re-
publican Senate had passed the Blair
Bill and it was on the calendar of the
Democratic House for months before
it's adjournment. The repeal of the tax
on tobacco and fruit brandies, or the re-
peal of the entire internal revenue sys-
TEN, had to originate in the House VIII ere
the Democrats had a large majority. No
such bill ever passed that body. The
Democratic speaker and the Democratic
President both are opposed to any such
legislation, and four-fifths of the party as
represented in Congress are opposed to it.
The record shows this. The same proper
tion OF the party is opposed to the protec-
ton of home industries and home labor,
and in favor of substantial free trade, and
it will be utterly impossible, as parties are
now constituted in the House, for either
the internal revenue system to be re-
pealed or for any friendly legislation for
protection to be enacted. The best that
can be done will be for the Randall Dem
ocrats to unite with the Republicans to
prevent disturbance of the tariff laws
which would be injurious to our industrial
system.
1t is an anomalous state Fittings, politi-
cally, that Democratic State Convention
should deliberately abandon the platform
of the National Convention of that Or
ganization and try to slip over on the Re-
publican platform, and then ask the people
to believe they are sincere. 1t is an eff
frontery so unblushing that it almost takes
the breath to think of it. And for a
Democratic paper to boastingly announce
that the Democratic party of Virginia is
in favor of measures and policies that the
Democratic President and the Democratic
Speaker of the House and Democratic
Congress and Democratic National Con
vention say are not u part and parcel OF
Democracy. is equally strange. 1t is a
confession to Republican wisdom and Re-
publican fidelity to public interests, and
to Democratic fallacy and in6delity and
weakness, without parallel. from Dem
ocratc source. 1t is an admission that
the Democratic party does not dare 60 be-
fore the people upon it's known principles.
and that 1t cannot hope to win victory
in Virginia unless it can deceive the peo'
pie into belief that the Democratic par
ty honestly stands upon the Republican
platform. This it would be difficult to do.
They are not so easily duped as to accept
i, this death-bed confession, or TO place
confidence where it has been so often and
recently abused. They know that the
Democratic party will never pass the Blai1
Educational bill. They know it will never
repeal the internal revenue laws. They
know that it will never sincerely accept the
policy Of protection. And that the re-
solves on this question by Boss Barbour
alleged Democratic Convention, recently
in session at Roanoke, were simply the de-
vice of sorely pressed party to propitiate
public favor and avert an Overwhelming
. and crushing defeat.
And what is this wholesale attempt at
deception for 1t is to elect Legislature
that will make Boss Barbour United
States Senator to go into Democratic
caucus to oppose every one of these re-
solves. 1t is to delude the people into the
belief that the leopard can change his
spots-that you can by a paper scroll
change free trader into protectionist-
change a party committed against the
Blair bill into its earnest. and honest sup.
port-change the record OF party against
the repeal of the tax on tobacco and fol
the perpetuation of the internal revenue
system, which retains "spies and infor-
mers," and abolish that obnoxious sys
tenn. The people are not all fools. They
haye better memories than Boss Barbour
and his followers give them credit for
They know from the sad experience of the
past, that Democratic triumph does moi
, bring relief to them either through State
, or Federal legislation. 1t means simply
that Boss Barbour is to be rewarded, moi
> for any salutary measures that his name il
associated with-for any wise Legislation
in the interest of the State or Nation
but for partizan success, from which has
accrued not the slightest benefit to them
, Boss Barbour is the issue. Boss Barbour
is the central figure around which thu
people are asked to rally-the Golden Cal
; before which they are commanded to bow
Virginia is nothing in comparison. Tht
> expressions which hang over the people
> like an impending doom are to be over
looked in the presence of this new incar
nation of bossism, and everything related
to the public welfare subordinated to his
supreme ambition.
1t won't take with the people.
Congressman Mills, of Texas, who lea(
the whlskey influence in the recent prohi
bition fight in that State, says the Demo
Gratis Of Texas are now going to take theil
affairs into their own hands, and read out
| of their party all the prohibition high